0:00:02 > 0:00:04My name is Hetty Feather. Don't mock!
0:00:04 > 0:00:07It's not my real name, but not much about me has ever been real.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Welcome to the Foundling Hospital.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Call me Matron, Matron Bottomly.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17You were abandoned here as babies by disgraced and sinful mothers,
0:00:17 > 0:00:21and duly sent out to be nurtured by a kindly foster family.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Hetty, we're your borrowed family.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27It is time for you and Gideon to go back. This is where you both belong.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Goodbye.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32And so began my time at the Foundling Hospital.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35It was a tough and cruel life.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38- Has to be you, 25629!- Matron!
0:00:38 > 0:00:39'Matron was my enemy...'
0:00:39 > 0:00:42- What's the matter, Feather...? - '..and she wasn't the only one.'
0:00:42 > 0:00:43Get off me!
0:00:43 > 0:00:46'But there were good times too. Thanks to my friends.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49'And together, we made our own family.'
0:00:49 > 0:00:50To our den, our very own place.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57But what I wanted more than anything was to find my real mother.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00All I had to remind me of her was a penny.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03A token she left here when she gave me up as a baby.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09It was foundling admission day,
0:01:09 > 0:01:11the day poor mothers brought their babies to the hospital
0:01:11 > 0:01:15hoping that this place could give their children a better future.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Just like my mother had before them.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Maybe today would hold some clues about my past,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22even about my real mother.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Could I ever find her?
0:01:58 > 0:02:01It was the senior foundlings' duty to help.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04The boys escorted the mothers to stand before Matron,
0:02:04 > 0:02:09the governors and their guests. Then they decided the baby's future.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10If you would like to follow me.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Matron chose which girls were on duty to see it all.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21As long as I behaved myself, I could still be chosen too.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Perhaps I could see what information they had written down.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30- Keep it up, Feather.- Yes, Matron.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38Were there other lists as well as our records?
0:02:38 > 0:02:42Like the names of our mothers, maybe even our real names.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46Today was my chance to find out more about who I really was.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49BABY COOS
0:02:54 > 0:02:56First candidate, please.
0:03:03 > 0:03:09- Name?- Miss Agnes Didcott, and this is my baby. She is such a good girl.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13- Why have you brought your child here today?- We are on the streets, sir.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15It is either here or the workhouse,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17and I know which place I would rather choose.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Miss Didcott, are you of good character, may I ask?
0:03:19 > 0:03:21Upright and honest.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24I had hoped to marry her father, but he is a wheeler by trade.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26He rolled off to work one morning and he never come back.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28COLONEL CHUCKLES
0:03:28 > 0:03:29BYSTANDERS WHISPER
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Call themselves ladies, they're nothing but gossips.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34(Feather! These are paying guests!)
0:03:34 > 0:03:38- And is the child in good health? - Perfect.
0:03:38 > 0:03:39Strong lungs, rosy cheeks,
0:03:39 > 0:03:43give her a crust of stale bread to suck on she's happy as a songbird.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Lady Asquith?
0:03:47 > 0:03:50The child's future has to be here, Colonel.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52- Matron?- I must agree.
0:03:54 > 0:03:59Your baby is accepted as a foundling, Miss, eh...Didcott.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Foundling 37951.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13(She can't even write.)
0:04:15 > 0:04:18BABY CRIES
0:04:23 > 0:04:26- Say goodbye to the child. - Not yet, I'm not ready.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28You don't even know her name.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31We save personal details for the records.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Her name is Hazel, and you need to, erm,
0:04:35 > 0:04:38stroke her cheek to get her to sleep and a lullaby.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Oh, you don't even know her favourite one.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Hazel!
0:04:43 > 0:04:46- This would have happened to all of us.- Hazel!
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Our mothers would have cried for us too.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52# Golden slumbers kiss your eyes
0:04:52 > 0:04:56# Smiles awake you when you rise
0:04:56 > 0:05:01- SOBBING:- # Sleep, pretty baby, do not cry
0:05:01 > 0:05:05# And I will sing a lullaby... #
0:05:05 > 0:05:07- Hazel...- No!
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Let her say goodbye properly, she is her mother.
0:05:10 > 0:05:11Calm down, Hetty.
0:05:11 > 0:05:1425269...quiet.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Sorry, Matron.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Straight to the nursery now!
0:05:22 > 0:05:24HAZEL MOANS
0:05:32 > 0:05:34HAZEL CRIES IN DISTANCE
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Hazel!
0:05:36 > 0:05:39W-Wait. Please, wait.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48I need to take her to Mr Cranbourne. Please, miss!
0:05:50 > 0:05:51Mamma loves you, Hazel.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56And when you look at this, you will always think of me.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- You will make sure she keeps it? - Mr Cranbourne keeps all tokens.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08I will come back for her, I will, as soon as they let me,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11and I'm married and have got enough to support her.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21- I never want her to forget me. There must be something you can do.- Me?
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Her name, don't let them change her name.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Please, I have got no-one else who can help.
0:06:26 > 0:06:27- HANDBELL RINGS MATRON:- Next.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Promise you'll try.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32I promise.
0:06:32 > 0:06:33SHE SNIFFS
0:06:33 > 0:06:34Goodbye, Hazel.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41- Hetty, go.- I promise.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58There you go.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Come on, Judd, Cranbourne's coming.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04Are you sure about this?
0:07:05 > 0:07:09They promised us high tea leftovers, if we're good.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Steak and kidney pudding.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Forget steak and kidney, I can get us something much better.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Wait, now!
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Eugh, my nose is running.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Good heavens, boy.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Vince, take him to the infirmary at once.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30- I'm feeling a bit peaky myself, sir. - Both of you, then, and stay there.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32There are infants about.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35I do apologise, ladies.
0:07:35 > 0:07:36Go on.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47- They're up to something. - They get in trouble, we all do.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49That means no high tea rewards.
0:07:49 > 0:07:54Mathias...pork pies and scones with jam.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56- We've got to stop them.- No, Walter.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00Ned, you go, you're the keen-eyed one round here.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04No stone unturned. I will find out what they are up to.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10SHE SOBS
0:08:23 > 0:08:25BABY COOS
0:08:25 > 0:08:29- She is quite pretty, I suppose. - Maybe, if she had more hair.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Who cares? I wish it would shut up crying.
0:08:33 > 0:08:34"It"?
0:08:38 > 0:08:43Her name is Hazel, and she likes a lullaby to get her to sleep.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48- We have to sing to them as well? - Hazel, it's all right.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Did the mother cry?
0:08:51 > 0:08:57Thank you, Hetty. Sheila, the baby needs washing and numbering.
0:08:57 > 0:08:5937951.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Hazel Didcott, that's her name.
0:09:02 > 0:09:03You know, Hetty, from today,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06she is going to be baptised with a new name.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08She's one of us now.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10But, Nurse, you don't understand!
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Straight back to the governors' office, please, Hetty.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16You and Harriet need to serve cups of tea.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Girls, baskets need preparing.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29Her name is Hazel. And I made a promise.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30Come on!
0:09:38 > 0:09:41What's in here that could be better than meat pudding?
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Whatever we nick, we trade with Stan the dairy lad.
0:09:44 > 0:09:49Reckons he can get his hands on anything. Let the pilfering begin!
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Vince, snot rag do?
0:09:53 > 0:09:57Hand-embroidered - got to be worth something.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03- Check under the mattresses, see what else we can find.- Like what?
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Stuff that is worth something.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Just keep searching!
0:10:13 > 0:10:17- What have you got there?- That'll do.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21- Now hurry!- What is it with girls and dolls?- Who cares?
0:10:21 > 0:10:23There has to be more, check over there.
0:10:31 > 0:10:32Toffees!
0:10:39 > 0:10:42- Christmas pennies!- Four penny buns.
0:10:42 > 0:10:48- Judd, we are not trading for grub. I want a football.- Really?
0:10:48 > 0:10:50But where can we play with it, how can we hide it?
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Let's just get it first.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54BUMP!
0:10:54 > 0:10:55What was that?
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Scarper! Stash this till tomorrow.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09DOORKNOB FALLS OFF AND ROLLS AWAY ON OTHER SIDE
0:12:05 > 0:12:09- And you are?- Ida, Ida Battersea. New kitchen maid.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13And not a minute too soon. Where do you hail from, Ida?
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Up north, but I have been in London since...well, for a while now.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19My last job was a private household.
0:12:21 > 0:12:22Well, stick to t'rules.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26Don't cross Matron and never fraternise with the foundlings.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29- You can't even talk to them? - Not unless work demands it.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32And the kitchen...is my domain.
0:12:32 > 0:12:33Yes, of course, Cook.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Well, fetch t'potatoes. Then scrub t'pantry floor.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43- Got the governors' high tea to do, I'm rushed off my feet.- Yes, Cook.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46I will put my belongings in my room and get cracking right away.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55- Polly, I need to go to the baptism! - You can't.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58- We can't get in trouble today. - Polly, I made a promise!
0:12:58 > 0:13:00To her mother. Cover for me?
0:13:02 > 0:13:04All right, I will tell Nurse Macclesfield a baby was
0:13:04 > 0:13:07sick over you and you have gone to get changed. But be quick.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12BELL RINGS
0:13:17 > 0:13:20- Baptismal name?- Eh...
0:13:21 > 0:13:25How about Patience Smallbone?
0:13:25 > 0:13:26No!
0:13:26 > 0:13:30- You can't, that's not her name. - Goodness me!
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Her real name is Hazel Didcott.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Which name is it to be?
0:13:34 > 0:13:38She deserves to know who she is. Like we all do.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42- Stop this at once. - It's what her mother wanted.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44She's Patience now.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47I do apologise, Minister, I will deal with this.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51No! Don't change her name!
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Whatever is the matter with you? You know the rules.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Her name is Hazel, not Patience.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Foundling names are changed to protect them.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04- Patience is just the same. - But, Nurse, please!
0:14:04 > 0:14:08Otherwise anyone could turn up here claiming to be her parent.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12Then what would happen to her? She might never find her real mother.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17Now, don't ever, ever let me see you behave like that again.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19If Matron was to hear about this...
0:14:19 > 0:14:20Hear about what?
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Hetty?
0:14:26 > 0:14:27I, um...
0:14:27 > 0:14:29I...
0:14:29 > 0:14:31I just wanted to see a baptism, Matron.
0:14:33 > 0:14:39The babies are so lucky, and I wanted to hear their new names.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44I should never have left my duties. I am sorry, Nurse Winterson.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Is this true?
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Hetty meant well, Matron, it's all been set straight now.
0:14:53 > 0:14:58Any other misdemeanours today, Feather, will be dealt with firmly.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02- If you want to see babies, set to work in the nursery.- Yes, Matron.
0:15:14 > 0:15:15DOOR CLICKS
0:15:23 > 0:15:26- What took you so long? - Well, the good news is,
0:15:26 > 0:15:28I have learned how to unjam a door using my specs.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- What is the bad news? - Vince and Judd have nicked stuff.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35From the girls' dorms, to trade with the dairy lad, for a football.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Where are they now?
0:15:37 > 0:15:38Kind of got stuck.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41"No stone unturned," you said.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43If they've been thieving, we need to get it back.
0:15:43 > 0:15:44Yeah.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46- HANDBELL RINGS MATRON:- Next.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50They changed Hazel's name to Patience
0:15:50 > 0:15:52and she's going to a borrowed family tomorrow.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56She won't come back for years. I promised I'd help her.
0:15:56 > 0:15:57Hetty, you did your best.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05- Polly...- What?
0:16:06 > 0:16:11P Cotton, Havenford. That's Peg and Jem,
0:16:11 > 0:16:12my foster family!
0:16:12 > 0:16:14If I could get baby Hazel to go there...
0:16:14 > 0:16:17I could send a letter with her.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19And Peg and Jem could tell her everything -
0:16:19 > 0:16:22her name, all about her mother.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25And...I could ask them about my mother too.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30Finish up now, girls, it's almost time for tea.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51- Stop feasting and admit it! - What're you on about?
0:16:51 > 0:16:54- Nicking from the girls' dorm. - We want their stuff back.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57We didn't take anything from the girls, we didn't do anything.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01You know us. We're always innocent.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Anyway, you will have to prove it.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Doors closed at last, Matron, and a most successful attendance.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Those less fortunate have given their children a future.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19All in a day's work, Lady Asquith.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23And as a mark of thanks, Matron, your yearly increment is restored.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25As of now.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27- A wage increase?- Mm.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31- Congratulations, Matron. - Much appreciated, Colonel Brigwell.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34A well-run hospital is both my duty and my pleasure.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41DOOR CREEPS OPEN
0:17:47 > 0:17:49KEYS JANGLE
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Guess what? You're going to Peg and Jem's.
0:18:53 > 0:18:54They looked after me.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59And now they'll look after you.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14I made a promise to your mother. And...
0:19:14 > 0:19:16now you can help me find my mother too.
0:19:35 > 0:19:40"Dear Jem. This is baby Hazel Didcott. That's her real name.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43"Her mother Agnes is pretty, with dark hair.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47"Tell Hazel she loves her, and she's going to come back for her.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50"She left an acorn tied with a red ribbon.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54"Do this for Hazel, Jem, and do something for me too.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57"I need to find my mother. Ask Peg if she knows anything.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59"Find out what you can.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03"You're the only person I know out there, you're my only hope.
0:20:03 > 0:20:04"Please write back soon."
0:20:21 > 0:20:23HANDBELL RINGS
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Hetty! What are you doing here?
0:20:47 > 0:20:50I just wanted to see Patience one last time, Nurse.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52She is with the other babies,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55waiting to go to her borrowed family!
0:20:55 > 0:20:57And you need to go, Hetty, dressed,
0:20:57 > 0:20:59before I inform Matron.
0:20:59 > 0:21:00Yes, Nurse Winterson.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08BABY COUGHS
0:21:10 > 0:21:15- Oh, my.- Sorry. - Oh, no need for sorry. I'm new.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Don't suppose you could take me to Matron's office, could you?
0:21:18 > 0:21:20That way.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24Foundling 37951, destination - Mrs P Cotton.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32- Oh!- Sorry, Matron.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- In a hurry, Feather? - Don't want to be late for chores.
0:21:40 > 0:21:41Feather.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45You're going the wrong way for laundry duty.
0:21:46 > 0:21:52- Of course, Matron. Silly me. - Silly indeed.
0:21:54 > 0:22:00Oi! You boys, you're meant to help the dairy boy, not just hang around.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Stan was early, Nurse. He started without us.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Is that right, Stanley?
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Never a truer word, miss. You're looking well.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Thank you.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16You two, work hard.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23- What you got there? - You wait and see.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28When the course, is clear, Gid', we follow.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31We've got to the end of rec.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47All this...
0:22:47 > 0:22:48for a leather football.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51What do you say?
0:22:53 > 0:22:59There's fourpence here, this hair slide - genuine tortoiseshell.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02This is all girls' stuff. You want a football for THIS?
0:23:02 > 0:23:04Do you know what trading is?
0:23:04 > 0:23:06No! That's our stuff!
0:23:06 > 0:23:08You stole it, you should be ashamed.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10We didn't steal it, we found it.
0:23:10 > 0:23:11In a cupboard.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15That's right, you're always innocent.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17So, if you found it...
0:23:17 > 0:23:20how about Hetty returns it to its rightful owners?
0:23:20 > 0:23:21- DOOR OPENS - Stanley!
0:23:21 > 0:23:24- Run!- Oi!
0:23:26 > 0:23:28There you are. Bring the milk.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31If Matron's tea is late, Cook will be in a bother.
0:23:34 > 0:23:35I need your help.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43I made a promise and I need to keep it.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47- You watch out while I plant this letter.- What letter?
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Baby Hazel Didcott... she's going to Peg's.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54And she's taking a message for me.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00- Distract her.- But how? - Gideon, use your imagination.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04Go.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Nurse?
0:24:06 > 0:24:08The dairy lad found this in the basement.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Contraband, it looks like.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14Well, I never. Give it here.
0:24:18 > 0:24:24My hair slide. Wondered where that had gone. What else is there then?
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Thieving little blighters.
0:24:26 > 0:24:27- CLATTER - Nurse!
0:24:29 > 0:24:30Let me.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37What was that?
0:24:37 > 0:24:40When I find out who has taken these things
0:24:40 > 0:24:43it's going to be detention for them.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45What's all this?
0:24:58 > 0:25:02Goodbye, Hazel, and thank you.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09I'm warning you, if I find out,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12it's going to be detention for every single one of them.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Ahh, toffees.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Is there a problem?
0:25:19 > 0:25:22- No, Miss Macclesfield. - Glad we could help.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Good. Off you go.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Back to your lessons.
0:25:40 > 0:25:41Have a good journey, Nurse.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56I'd done it, I'd kept my promise.
0:25:56 > 0:25:57I'd got a message out.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Baby Hazel would soon know all about her mother.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Now could Jem and Peg tell me something about mine?
0:26:12 > 0:26:14All I needed was a letter back.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17My mother had to be out there somewhere.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19At last, was this a way to find her?
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Was this a way to bring her back to me?
0:26:31 > 0:26:37# Golden slumbers kiss your eyes
0:26:39 > 0:26:44# Smiles await you when you rise
0:26:46 > 0:26:52# Sleep, pretty baby, do not cry
0:26:52 > 0:26:57# And I will sing a lullaby. #
0:27:01 > 0:27:03You mean your stupid tower's haunted?
0:27:03 > 0:27:06THEY SCREAM
0:27:06 > 0:27:07It is the child.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13- We do not wish to merely see the child.- We want to adopt her.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Adoption is against hospital rules.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Dunce!
0:27:19 > 0:27:23I would make you such a wonderful daughter.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Not bye, just...see you soon.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28Let's show them a real spook, then see who is scared.
0:27:28 > 0:27:29Boo!